Dear Father:

During his pastoral visit to Cuba last year, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed, “I come . . . as a pilgrim of charity, to confirm my brothers and sisters in the faith and strengthen them in the hope which is born of the presence of God’s love in our lives.”

There are many places around the globe where the Church struggles to be a visible sign of charity, but thankfully, the Holy Father is the pilgrim of charity for Catholics everywhere. In poor dioceses where many are dependent on the Church for social and pastoral support; in regions where Catholics are persecuted for their faith; and in nations overloaded with refugees and victims of war and natural disasters, the works done by the Holy Father help the Church extend charity to those most in need.

The Peter’s Pence Collection gives each of us the opportunity to become a pilgrim of charity around the world. Our gifts to this annual Collection help the Holy Father strengthen dioceses, religious orders, and struggling communities of faith.

You can help ensure the success of this year’s Collection by using the bulletin announcements, parish appeal, and bulletin inserts we have provided to you. The most important thing you can do to affect the outcome of the Collection is to mention it during Mass. Thank you sincerely for your support of the Holy Father and his charitable works.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr Archbishop of Cincinnati Chairman, USCCB Committee on National Collections

Peter’s PenceCollection

Pa r i s h r e s o u r c e G u i d e

Charity bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things,endures all things.

(1 Cor 13:7)

Simple StepsPlease take the following steps to promote the Peter’s Pence Collection in your parish:

uUse the bulletin announcements and parish appeal provided. Additional promotional resources are available at www.usccb.org (search “Peter’s Pence Collection Materials”).

vInsert the Peter’s Pence flier into all bulletins the weekend before or the weekend of the Collection; make the collection envelopes available to parishioners.

wPreach about the Peter’s Pence Collection as a tangible reflection of our communion with the Universal Church.

xAnnounce the Peter’s Pence Collection during Mass, and encourage generous participation.

yPray that the Holy Father is provided with enough resources to assist those in most need of help around the world.

Bulletin AnnouncementsLa semana antes de la Colecta

La próxima semana nuestra diócesis realizará la Colecta Peter’s Pence, la cual le provee al Santo Padre los fondos que él necesita para llevar a cabo sus más importantes obras de caridad. Lo recaudado beneficia a los más desfavorecidos: a las víctimas de guerra, de opresión y de desastres. Su donativo lo convierte a usted en un peregrino de la caridad en el mundo.

The Week of the Collection

Today we support the Holy Father in his charitable works. The Peter’s Pence Collection is taken up worldwide to support the most disadvantaged: victims of war, oppression, and natural disaster and others in need of emergency assistance. Be a pilgrim of charity—please be generous in today’s Collection.

La semana de la Colecta

Hoy apoyamos al Santo Padre en sus obras de caridad. La Colecta de Peter’s Pence se realiza en el mundo entero a fin de apoyar a los más desfavorecidos: a las víctimas de guerra, de opresión y de desastres naturales y a otros que necesitan ayuda de emergencia. Sea un peregrino de la caridad—por favor, contribuya generosamente a la Colecta de hoy.

The Week After the Collection

Thank you for your generous support of the essential work of the Holy Father and his charitable acts through the Peter’s Pence Collection. Our contributions will be combined with those from our brothers and sisters around the world to help the Holy Father reach out to those in need. Thank you for being a Pilgrim of Charity through your generosity.

La semana después de la Colecta

Muchas gracias por su generoso apoyo a la imprescindible labor del Santo Padre y sus actos de caridad por medio de la Colecta de Peter’s Pence. Sus donativos serán sumados a los de nuestros hermanos y hermanas en todo el mundo para ayudar al Santo Padre a tender la mano a los más necesitados. Gracias por ser un Peregrino de la Caridad por medio de su generosidad.

The Week Before the Collection

Next week our diocese will take up the Peter’s Pence Collection, which provides the Holy Father with the funds he needs to carry out his most important charitable works. The proceeds benefit the most disadvantaged: victims of war, oppression, and disasters. Your gift makes you a pilgrim of charity around the globe.

Parish Appeal | Llamado a la parroquia Read this text from the pulpit, or include it as part of your weekly announcements.

Lea este texto desde el púlpito o inclúyalo en los anuncios de la semana.

EnglishPope Benedict XVI said, “I come . . . as a pilgrim of charity, to confirm my brothers and sisters in the faith and strengthen them in the hope which is born of the presence of God’s love in our lives.” The Peter’s Pence Collection gives us a chance to be pilgrims of charity for those in need, led by the good example of the Holy Father. The pope uses Collection proceeds to provide emergency assistance and aid to the most disadvantaged around the world. Please be generous in the Collection and be a pilgrim of charity throughout the world.

SpanishEl Papa Benedicto XVI dijo: “Vengo . . . como peregrino de la caridad, para confirmar a mis hermanos en la fe y alentarles en la esperanza, que nace de la presencia del amor de Dios en nuestras vidas”. La Colecta de Peter’s Pence nos brinda la oportunidad de ser peregrinos de la caridad para los que pasan necesidades, guiados por el buen ejemplo del Santo Padre. El Papa utiliza lo recaudado en la Colecta para ofrecer ayuda de emergencia y socorro a lo más desfavorecidos en el mundo. Por favor, contribuya generosamente a la Colecta y sea un peregrino de la caridad en el mundo.

IntercessionsTo further extend the theme of the Collection into the liturgy, consider using the following intercessions taken from the USCCB Office of Divine Worship’s Holy Hour for Peace.

R/. Lord, hear our prayer.

For Christians and all people of good will, may they never lose hope in the possibility of peace, we pray to the Lord. . . . R/.

For government leaders, may they hear and respond to their people’s plea for peace and justice, we pray to the Lord. . . . R/.

For the young everywhere, may they grow in courage to seek the peace God offers the world, we pray to the Lord. . . . R/.

For those serving in the military, may the Lord guide them and protect them, we pray to the Lord. . . . R/.

For those who have died, especially those who have died in war, may the Lord accept them into his loving presence, we pray to the Lord. . . . R/.

IntercesionesA modo de profundizar más el tema de la Colecta en la liturgia, consideren utilizar las siguientes intercesiones tomadas de Holy Hour of Peace de la Oficina de la USCCB para el culto divino.

R/. Señor, escucha nuestra oración.

Por los cristianos y todas las personas de buena voluntad, para que nunca pierdan la esperanza de alcanzar la paz, te lo pedimos Señor. . . . R/.

Por los líderes del gobierno, para que escuchen y respondan a la súplica de su pueblo para que haya paz y justicia, te lo pedimos Señor. . . . R/.

Por los jóvenes en todas partes, para que, llenos de valor, busquen la paz que Dios le ofrece al mundo, te lo pedimos Señor. . . . R/.

Por los que están sirviendo en las fuerzas armadas, para que el Señor los guíe y los proteja, te lo pedimos Señor. . . . R/.

Por los que han fallecido, especialmente por aquellos que han muerto en la guerra, para que sean recibidos en la presencia amorosa del Señor, te lo pedimos Señor. . . . R/.

These resources and others can be downloaded at www.usccb.org (search “Peter’s Pence Collection Materials”).Estos recursos y otros se pueden transferir en www.usccb.org (busque “Peter’s Pence Collection Materials”).

Man’s earthy activity, when inspired and sustained by charity, contributes to the building of the universal city of God, which is the goal of the history of the human family.

Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI

Peter’s Pence Collection | Office of National Collections3211 Fourth Street NE | Washington, DC 20017-1194(202) 541-3346 | Fax (202) 541-3460 | www.usccb.org/nationalcollections Copyright © 2013, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photos: front, Alessia Giuliani/Catholic Press Photo; back, REUTERS/Chris Helgren. 802024-13

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